Research Writing – Session 1

Who are the readers of theses or dissertations?

 Primary readers
 Secondary readers
Writers of theses/ dissertation => novices writing for expert
Writers of research articles => experts writing for experts
Purpose of research: explore, explain, describe
Process of conducting a research
Observation – Question – Literature – Hypothesis – Experiment – Collect data – Analyzing data – Results
– Conclusion – Ask new Q – Observation
What is research design? “provides the glue that holds the research project together (Trochim, 2005)
Types of scientific research:

 Basic research
 Applied research
General approaches to research

 Qualitative: involves analysis of data using words (interview), pictures (video), objects (an
artifact)
 Quantitative: involves analysis of numerical data and their relationship (pre-test, post-test,
questionnaire, …)
 Mixed Method
Academic writing

 In research writing, use high frequency words. Try to avoid using complex words or low
frequency words. => DO NOT COMPLICATE YOUR PAPER
 Full forms
 Use of passive voice
 Use of nominal groups
 Literature review & methodology => Active voice
 Use formal vocabulary => Use specific words rather than phrasal verbs. However, if your writing
is delivered in the conference, use phrasal verbs in order to sound like spoken language.
 Use strong verbs instead of phrasal verbs
 Choose specific verbs (outline, demonstrate, maintain, conclude, support, infer, etc.)
 Use appropriate transition
 Avoid redundancy
 Sounding impersonal
 Choose language which is less intense, les emotional: helpful, poor, inadequate, problematic
 Instead if using absolute positives or negatives: proof, wrong: strong evidence, less convincing
 Avoid evaluative words: valid, insecure, reliable, clearly demonstrated, rigor, outdated
 Use modality to show caution about your views:
I think second hand smoke causes cancer. => Second-hand smoke may cause cancer
Research Writing – Session 1

 Find authorities sources

Language is, in my view, clearly something social. => As Halliday (1973), language is clearly
something social.

 Using examples: for instance, for example, such as, e.g., i.e., [particularly, especially (to give a
focus)], [A case in point (for single example, emphasize)]
 Restatements: in other words, namely, that is (to say), i.e.
 Style

Do not use Use

Like Such as, for instance
Thing, something Issue, factor
Good, bad Positive, negative
Etc., so on And ( before the last item)
 Articles: all nouns need an article when used in the singular